Kurt Warner defends Peyton Manning scrutiny

INDIANAPOLIS - As an analyst for the NFL Network, former Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner refers to the media as "we." And he defended all of the attention being paid this week in Super Bowl XVLI to Peyton Manning.

Manning's continuing neck problem might lead the Colts to release him, and there is considerable speculation about where, or if, Manning will play again.

"I'm telling people, as the media, we're trying to spend 12 hours a day talking about the Super Bowl," Warner said. "We can't come up with enough things to talk about, so definitely Peyton, being in his town, with all the questions, is going to be a huge part of it."

If Manning is healthy enough to play and signs with another team, Warner said replicating what Manning had with the Colts won't be easy. He said it's similar to what he went through after leaving the Rams and playing for the Giants and Cardinals.

"I don't think there's any question in mind, if there's a guy who can do something similar to what I did -- resurrect their career and go somewhere else and play at a higher level -- it's a guy like Peyton," Warner said. "Because you know he's going to work and you know he's going to set a standard.

"It's hard to do. You don't see many quarterbacks do it."

That's because it's hard to find a coach, a system and teammates that mesh with a veteran.

"It's not as easy as showing up because you're Peyton Manning, or because you're Tom Brady or whoever else," Warner said. "It's a transition.

"Same with me in Arizona. I was there for three years before we really started clicking and I could get it to playing football the way I played football."

Irsay plans to wait

Jim Irsay is putting the Manning decision on hold.

The Colts owner said Wednesday he will monitor Manning's recovery from Sept. 8 neck surgery over the next month and might wait until the last possible moment to determine whether to pay the quarterback a $28 million roster bonus, redo the five-year contract he signed last summer or risk losing the four-time MVP as a free agent.

"It's two-phased. There's the medical aspect, as to whether he can play at a really high level, and that's the only place he wants to be. ... " Irsay said. "The second issue has always been his health and the risks of going back onto the field. When the Super Bowl ends, he and I will continue to talk about it."

Costly mistake

Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora was the only player who didn't attend the mandatory session with the media Wednesday morning.

A few hours later, the NFL announced it had fined Umenyiora $20,000, which is equal to the amount Giants players received for winning a first-round playoff game.

"I misunderstood the schedule," said Umenyiora, who promised to attend today's session.

Hitting a wall

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski continued to give the same answer when asked about the ankle sprain he suffered in the AFC title game: "It's getting better every day."

Gronkowski provided no specifics and declined to answer when asked if he has been able to run.

He did not practice Wednesday.

"Whatever the training staff has me do," he said. "I'm not going to disclose information about what I'm doing."